Call to help create Covid community memorial

Published: Friday 18 March 2022

This image shows a view over Hamilton and beyond from Chatelherault Country Park

The search is on to find an artist to create a community Covid memorial for South Lanarkshire.

The council, along with all other Scottish Local Authorities, and in partnership with greenspace scotland, is seeking to commission an artist or creative practitioner with a background in co-creative, participatory practice to work with local groups and communities to co-create a Covid community memorial as part of the Remembering Together programme.

Remembering Together is about creating together, being part of a process to commemorate those who have lost their lives, those who have experienced loss and change as well as celebrating the ways in which Scottish communities have come together during the most difficult times.

The closing date for anyone to submit an expression of interest is midnight on Monday 11 April and a full brief can be found on the Remembering Together website.

Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Council, Cleland Sneddon, said: “The pandemic has no doubt had an impact on everyone across South Lanarkshire, and indeed the world.

“Of course, for some people it has resulted in the tragic loss of loved ones. I believe that our memorial, whatever shape or form it takes with input from local communities, will be a fitting way to remember them, as well as marking what has changed in all our lives.

“It will also help preserve the best of what we have learned and created during the pandemic.”

In addition to the Remembering Together programme, hundreds of trees have been planted across South Lanarkshire as a memorial to Covid-19 victims.

In total 800 trees have been planted at 13 locations across the area, in memory of local people who lost their lives in the pandemic. This was the approximate number of deaths when the decision was made to plant the trees.